Fluid cleaner



March 7, 1933. G; M. SPENCER 1,899,993

FLUID CLEANER Filed June 18, 19:50

,efeafgye 7/2, fiance) Patented Mar. 7, 1933 snoiidn ivr. sriiifoiiii, or diiicaeo, annals rum) amines Application fil ed June 18,

This invention relates ingeneral toafluid er mere P rt cu r y to a ethcd andap'paratus 1. 01101881111111; fluidsuch 2152111,

q th like or forseparating Solid restricting the flow of the fluid.

5 particles and the like from fluid.

in the operating parts such as may interfere with theoperation of the device. V 4

Another important object, of the invention is to provide. a new, novel and improved method of separating particles from .fiuid.

' Numerous other objects and advantagesof 7 the invention will be app nt as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection wlth the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing;

Figure l is a vertical section ofa device embodying my invention, Movement of fluid through the. device being indicated by arrows, and,

In the 7 present embodiment the part 12, is

. formed vof sheet metal and substantially cy lindrical, the cover part 13, is also formed of sheet metal andprovided withan annular flange 17 for embracing the part 12, a tapered body part 18, which is upsetim provide. an

; annular vertical wall 19, and formed op} positely toprovide a depending cone 20, the

large diameter of which isless than the diameterofthe vertical wall 19, so that afiat por: tion 21, is provided between the portion 20, nd he Wa l th tmay p ated. t provide a suitable number of the inlet open- 1939. Serial No. 461,906.

ings; 15-. The total areaof these openings 15, should exceed the capacity of the outlet 16. Thetip of the coneportion 20, is cut away or removed to provide a jet opening .22. The fiange 17,.is preferably welded or otherwise permanently secured to the part 12.

[The-bottom closure or} cover part 14,..is also preferably formed of sheet metal and bead 24, is formed in the part 14, to limit the relativeaxialmovement of, these parts and a bayonet connection'between these parts indicatedat 25, provides a means ofremovchamber 26;, which will be laterdescribed, and a-di'schargeoutlet 27. A hinged closure plate28, having a hinged, connection with toengage over an end 28, of the part 12. A

ably attaching theparts together. Thepart 14, provides a. dust ,or particle receiving p t 14,.at 29, may also be provided to facilitate removal of accumulations from fluids cleaned and this plate may beheld inclosed, position in any suitable manner, such as by means of a counter-weight 30. Obviously these partsmay be formed otherwise and of any suitable material.

It is anobject of this invention to concentrate solid particles and the like carried in suspension influid such as air, within the fluid andto accomplish this thefiuid carrying solid particles and the like is directed along convergentlinesor toward a common .center or apex V and the directiojn .of. ,fiuid flow is changed, preferably just before the apex is reached,';and so thatthe apex'is. located substantially at the center of a central fluid channel. The directing means in .the present em.- bodirnent is provided by a member 40, havingan annular flange 41, adapted to engage tightly against the wall 19, of the part 13, and embrace the inlet. openings 15. The member 40, ,is shapedsubstantially in the fo iln of a. depending-frustrated cone having. atapeting wall portion l2, spaced from the cone 20, to provide a. convergent fluid channel 43, ofsuitable capacity and terminating in a cyl-indricalportion 44, within. the. confines o f which'is located the normal apex of the convergent fluid channel 43.

.113 is another object of theinvention .to re:-

move the fluid from the concentrated col lected or condensed solid particles without materially disturbing the movement of the solid particles and to remove the fluid gradually andequally in opposite directions. To accomplish this I have shown a member or device 45, similar in form to the member 40, and oppositely disposed having an annular collar portion 46', adapted to embrace the portion 44, of the member 40, a conical portion 47, extending therefrom and terminating in an annular flange 48, spaced lug portions 49 of which are formed laterally to provide seats for an annular screen member 50. The member 45, is of less diameter than the body part 12, so that a fluid passage of a relatively large capacity is provided about the periphery of the member 45, and between this part and part 12. The screen member 50, which seats against the lugs 49, of the member 45, and a head 51, formed in the part 12, provides a stop or dam for a filtering mass 52, which is or may be used when fine and dust like particles are to be separated from fluid.

The filtering mass 52, is preferably formed of a loosely packed fibrous material such as hair or stranded metals and is preferably supported in the lower end of the body part 12, by cross rods 53, having bearings in depending lugs 54, formed on the part 12, and spaced inwardly therefrom. An outwardly curved or expanding collar 55, of pervious or screen material controls the inner contour or form of the filtering mass and this collar is preferably formed to embrace the portion 44, of the member 40, and to expand in increasing proportion asthe distance from the portion 44 increases so as to avoid obstructing many particles having a tendency to follow the fluid into the filter mass and not to interferewith their movement into the quiescent I collecting chamber 26.

' While as above mentioned the device is adapted to separatesolids from other fluids the description of its operation will be directed to air and solids such as dust, sand, grit and the like. Extracting air through the tube 56 starts operation. Air enters the inlet openings 15 and is directed convergently through the channel 43. The path of movement of the air is changed in the tubular portion-44, and the inertia of the solid particles carries them to the center of the air column or central fluid channel-57. The jet opening 22,'which is relatively small tends to shift the apex of the convergent channel clownwardly in proportion to the rate of fluid flow to accelerate movement of the particles, and to prevent many particles from being carried completely across the apex or central channel 57, under maximum working condition. The length or internalarea of the collar55, is substantially equal to or greater than the density or obstructing capacity of the filter mass 52, and the air carrying the concentrated'solid particles is directed downwardly through the collar 55, and toward the chamber 26. The relative shapes of the parts are suchas to effect a gradual expansion of the air away from the solid particles and this effect is made more uniform by the obstruction offered by the filtering mass 52. Since the removal of the air from the central channel 57, is gradual and uniform or equal in at least two directions or all directions, the movement of the solid particles into the chamber 26, is not materially interrupted. When the device is operated in a perpendicular position this movement of the particles is aided by gravity. It will be noted that as the air is withdrawn or removed laterally at least some of the solid particles will tend to follow the air and consequently follow a curved path, and that the contour of the part or collar 55, is such as to avoid interference with these particles so that their movement into the chamber 26, will be uninterrupted and so that the device'will not become congested. Due to the arrangement of the parts the movement of the air through the filter mass is substantially horizontal and relatively slow and any fine particles carried into the mass are moved from the path of the fluid by obstruction until they precipitate from the bottom of the filter mass and into the chamber 26. W here it is essential toremove exceedmgly fine substances from air the filter mass may be soaked. with oil or the like. The air is drawn from the filter mass through the screen 50, and into a chamber 61, formed by the exterior of the members 40, and 45, and is removed from this chamber 61, through the tube 56.

Accumulations of particles or materials may be periodically removed through the cover plate 28.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparents that various changes may be made in the form, construction, andarrangementof the parts without departing from the spirit'and scope of the invention, or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof,

I claim: 7 I

1. An air cleaner comprising, a body hav ing inlet and outlet openings, a member mounted in said body to receive fluid from the inlet opening and being substantially of the form of an inverted frustrated cone terminating in a depending cylindrical channel portion, a second member of similar form mounted insaid body and embracing the depending cylindrical channel portion of said first mentioned member and spaced from the body, said members forming a central fluid channel and an outer'outlet chamber communicating with the outlet in said body, a mass filter positioned in said second member,

and between said central'channel and said outlet chamber having a central opening therein, and a bottom closure for said body arranged to provide a quiescent chamber and to receive and store materials separated from fluid.

2. A fluid cleaner comprising, a body having inlet and outlet openings, fluid directing means associated therewith whereby fluid entering said body is directedconvergently toward a common center for concentrating solid particles carried in suspension in said fluid and expanding the fluid away from said particles, and cooperating fluid directing means for shifting the common center in accordance with the rate of fluid flow.

3. A fluid cleaner comprising, a body having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, means within said body forming a Venturi tube-like fluid channel leading from said inlet opening and being contracted at its medial portion, and an open-ended inverted coneshaped member positioned within the enteringend of said channel and extending from the entrance thereof to a point adjacent the contracted portion, said cone-shaped member being spaced from the walls of said channel to provide a surrounding converging passage for fluid and having an opening at its-apex to direct a jet offluid to the center of the convergence of the said surrounding passage.

4-. A fluid cleaner comprising a body having inlet and outlet openings, an enclosed channel member, fluid conducting means associated therewith and leading into said enclosed channel members whereby fluid'is directed convergently toward a common center for concentrating solid particles carried in suspension in said fluid, said channel member having perforated Walls extending beyond the center of convergence of the fluid and expanding outwardly toward the sides of said body for expanding the fluid away from said solid particles, and a filtering medium covering and surrounding said perforated channel 1walls to screen the passage toward said out- 5. A fluid cleaner comprising a body having inlet and outlet openings, fluid conducting fluid toward the said center of convergence and in the direction of flow of the converging fluid for shifting the common center in accordance with the rate of fluid flow.

GEORGE M. SPENCER.

ing means associated therewith whereby fluid entering said body is directed convergently toward a common center for concentrating solid particles carried in suspension in said fluid, means forming an enclosed channel surrounding the common center of fluid convergence, said channel means having perforated walls extending beyond the center of V convergence of the fluid and expanding outwardly toward the sides of said body for expanding the fluid away from said solid particles, a filtering medium covering and surrounding said perforated channel walls and extending laterally therefrom to the walls of said body at a point below said outlet, and a cooperating fluid conducting means direct- 

